LECCIONES DESDE LAGOS (NIGERIA)

“Es difícil abstraerse y no empatizar con la tripulación del DANA992 de lo que se deduce de la situación que vivieron piloto y copiloto en el minuto cuarenta y dos segundos en los que tras declarar emergencia a las 15:42:10, hasta que el Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) dejó de grabar a las 15:43:52. Fueron conscientes hasta el último segundo de que se habían quedado sin potencia, y que la única solución viable era intentar poner en marcha de nuevo ambos motores. Hasta el último segundo de su vida intentaron reconducir la situación, y aunque no lo lograron, lo intentaron hasta el último aliento.

Quizás, al contrario de lo sucedido en otras ocasiones, y como con extrañas tesis hemos oído en nuestro país demasiadas veces ya, este enorme ejemplo de profesionalidad y de responsabilidad nos haga reflexionar sobre la trascendencia de no lowcostizar hasta el límite esta profesión, ni tantas otras en el sector. Vaya por delante nuestro más sincero abrazo a todos aquellos que pese a intentarlo todo no lo consiguieron. Esta es la historia de la humanidad en estado puro, y de la aviación. La diferencia es intentarlo todo, o la dejadez irresponsable absoluta que conduce a un desastre en el todos los actores que rodean la operación aérea tiene su cuota, en mayor o menor medida de esa responsabilidad. Toda una moraleja para la aviación y para la vida. Toda una enseñanza de los que todo lo intentan a los que todo lo dejan en el aire. Profesionalidad vs irresponsabilidad. Excelencia vs indecencia”

Estas conmovedoras palabras, extraídas del artículo publicado en Aviación Digital sobre el accidente de Lagos (Nigeria), el día 3 de junio de este año 2012, ponen de manifiesto lo importantes que son la profesionalidad y la responsabilidad de todos los profesionales que, con su empeño y dedicación, mantienen su eslabón en perfecto estado para que la cadena de la seguridad no se rompa. Profesionalidad, responsabilidad, empeño y dedicación no son palabras huecas en la mente, corazón y manos de aquellos para los que la seguridad no es sino el sentido de su vida profesional y personal.

Sentimientos que nos provocan la lectura y reflexión de los siguientes párrafos del Informe preliminar del accidente:


UPDATED REPORT ON DANA AIR 0992, 5N-RAM CRASH OF 03/06/2012 IN LAGOS

…

The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) retained about 31minutes of the flight and starts about 151 5 at which time the captain and first officer were in a discussion of a nonnormal condition regarding the correlation between the engine throttle setting and an engine power indication3.

However, they did not voice concerns then that the condition would affect the continuation of the flight. The flight crew continued to monitor the condition and became increasingly concerned as the flight transition through the initial descent from cruise altitude at 1522 and the subsequent approach phase.

DAN 992 reported passing through 18,100 and 7,700 ft, respectively, at 1530 and 1540 hours. After receiving a series of heading and altitude assignments from the controller, DAN 992 was issued the final heading to intercept the final approach course for runway 18R.

During the period of 1537 and 15:41 the flight crew engaged in pre-landing tasks including deployment of the slats, and extension of the flaps and landing gear. At 15:41:16 the first officer (FO) inquired, "both engines coming up?" and the captain (Capt) replied “negative.” The flight crew subsequently discussed and agreed to declare an emergency. At 1542:10, DANA 992 radioed an emergency distress call indicating "dual engine failure . . .negative response from throttle."

At 1542:35, the flight crew lowered the flaps further and continued with the approach and discussed landing alternatively on runway 18L. At 1542:45, the Capt reported the runway in sight and instructed the FO to raise the flaps up and 4 seconds later to raise the landing gear.

At 1543:27 hours, the Capt informed the FO "we just lost everything, we lost an engine. I lost both engines". During the next 25 seconds until the end of the CVR recording, the flight crew was attempting to restart the engines. The airplane crashed in a residential area about 5.8 miles north of LOS.

…

Impresionante. Recordamos que el día 3 de junio un avión comercial de la compañía nigeriana Dana Air con 159 personas a bordo, de la compañía nigeriana Dana Air, se estrelló hoy en barrio residencial de Lagos durante la maniobra de aterrizaje. En el momento del accidente, el cielo estaba despejado y había sol. Fue el segundo accidente de un avión nigeriano en menos de 24 horas, después de que el día anterior una aeronave de carga de Allied Air se saliera de la pista al intentar aterrizar en Accra y embistiera a un autobús, causando 10 muertos.

Adjuntamos también el Informe de la Aviation Safety Network

Narrative:

A McDonnell Douglas MD-83 passenger plane, 5N-RAM, operated by Dana Air was destroyed when it crashed into a residential area of Lagos, Nigeria. All 147 passengers and six crew members were killed. There were 10 confirmed ground fatalities.

The airplane was on the fourth flight segment of the day, consisting of two round-trips between Lagos and Abuja. The accident occurred during the return leg of the second trip.

Flight DAN 992 initiated engine startup at 14:36, taxied to the runway and was later airborne at 14:58. Fuel endurance was 3.5 hours. The flight climbed to a cruise altitude of 26,000 ft.

DAN 992 made contact with Lagos Area Control Center at 15:18. At the time the captain and first officer were in a discussion of a nonnormal condition regarding the correlation between the engine throttle setting and an engine power indication.

However, they did not voice concerns then that the condition would affect the continuation of the flight. The flight crew continued to monitor the condition and became increasingly concerned as the flight transition through the initial descent from cruise altitude at 15:22 and the subsequent approach phase.

DAN 992 reported passing through 18,100 and 7,700 ft, respectively, at 15:30 and 15:40. After receiving a series of heading and altitude assignments from the controller, DAN 992 was issued the final heading to intercept the final approach course for runway 18R.

Between 15:37 and 15:41 the flight crew were engaged in pre-landing tasks including deployment of the slats, and extension of the flaps and landing gear. At 15:41:16 the first officer inquired, "both engines coming up?" and the captain replied "negative."

The flight crew subsequently discussed and agreed to declare an emergency. At 15:42:10, DANA 992 radioed an emergency distress call indicating "dual engine failure...negative response from throttle."

At 15:42:35, the flight crew lowered the flaps further and continued with the approach and discussed landing alternatively on runway 18L. At 15:42:45, the captain reported the runway in sight and instructed the first officer to raise the flaps and 4 seconds later to raise the landing gear.

At 15:43:27 hours, the captain informed the first officer "we just lost everything, we lost an engine. I lost both engines". During the next 25 seconds the flight crew was attempting to restart the engines.

The airplane did not reach the runway and crashed in a residential area about 9,3 km short of the runway 18R.

During the impact sequence, the airplane struck an incomplete building, two trees and three buildings. The wreckage was confined, with the separated tail section and engines located at the beginning of the debris field. A fire erupted.

Weather reported about at 15:00 UTC (16:00 local time):

DNMM 031500Z 19007KT 140V230 9999 SCT014 30/23 Q1013 NOSIG
Wind 190 degrees at 7 knots; winds varying between 140 and 230 degrees; Visibility 10+ km; Scatter clouds at 1400 feet; Temperature 30°C, Dew point 23°C; pressure 1013 mb.